The Election's Importance

Picture is from Seeds of Doubt site. I thought it neatly summed up the importance of the November election.

Bush Playing Politics With Oil

Bush continues to play politics with the high price of gasoline. He has now lifted presidential restrictions on off-shore drilling for new oil. In that way, he's trying to get the American public to believe that high gas prices are the fault of Democrats because they won't allow new off-shore drilling.

Bush says the new drilling he is proposing would cure a "shortage" of oil in the long-term, and the psychology of the new drilling would result in a short-term drop in prices. Of course, this is pure horse-hockey. The big oil companies are not about to give up their record profits because of the "psychology" of some new oil leases, especially since they already have 68 million acres of leases they have not drilled in yet.

Democrats have asked the president to release some of America's strategic oil reserves to correct the perceived shortage. Bush has refused to dip into the oil reserves. Why? Because he knows there are no real shortages. It's just a game being played by his oilmen buddies to keep making their record-breaking profits.

Even those who admit there is currently plenty of oil want to play the "shortage" game. They claim the shortage is in gasoline because the U.S. doesn't have enough refining capacity to meet the demand in this country. This is also a lie.

The truth is that plenty of gasoline is being produced, but record amounts of diesel and gasoline are being EXPORTED from the United States to other countries at record levels. Gasoline exports to just one country (Canada) has jumped from 9,000 barrels in 2007 to 41,000 barrels in the first four months of this year.

Just look at gasoline exports for one month this year. During April, big oil exported an average of 202,000 barrels of gasoline each day from the United States to other countries. In April of 2007, 116,000 barrels a day were exported. If there is a shortage of gasoline (or oil), then why are we exporting so much to other countries?

For the first four months of this year, exports of American refined petroluem products (diesel, gasoline, etc.) were up 33% to about 1.6 million barrels each day. At the same time oil companies are complaining about a shortage of refining capacity, they are shipping huge quantities out of the country.

The truth is that if these exports were outlawed, there would be plenty of gas here and the price would fall so they could sell it all. But Bush is not about to do that. That would lower the oil company profits from obscene to merely outrageous. He wouldn't do that to his oil buddies.

So don't let the Republicans tell you the gas prices are high because Democrats won't allow off-shore drilling. The prices are high because the oil companies have created a false shortage by shipping our gas to the highest bidders in other countries. That's why they're getting record windfall profits even though the price of oil has risen.

These are multi-mational companies who care nothing about the American consumer. Bush and Cheney (and McCain) don't care either.

(Hat tip to M YU of Social Seppuku for the article on petroleum exports).

McCain's No Foreign Policy Expert

For weeks now, I've been hearing the mainstream media rave on about how McCain's strength in the coming election is his foreign policy experience and expertise. Somehow they've looked at his military experience, his many years in the Senate and a few trips to Iraq, and decided he must be an expert in foriegn policy. But after watching him make several foreign policy blunders, I have serious doubts.

Take for instance his statements on his recent trip to Iraq. McCain told newsmen that Iran was supplying arms and aid to al-Queda. Even after being corrected by his buddy Joe Lieberman, McCain made the same mistake later. At the time, it was just labeled as a misstatement or a "senior moment".

But this was a mistake that someone who really understood what was going on in Iraq should not have made. There is no way that Iran would ever help al-Queda. That is because Iran is ruled by Shiites, and al-Queda is composed of Sunnis. The Shiites and the Sunnis do not get along at all. Iran may have been helping some Shiite insurgency groups in Iraq, but they would not arm their enemies -- the Sunnis.

On Monday, he again made a serious mistake on the campaign trail. He told a group that he was worried about Russia cutting off oil exports to Czechoslovakia because they had signed an agreement with us. Yesterday, he made the same mistake again.

Evidently, he doesn't know that the country of Czechoslovakia has not existed for at least 15 years. In January of 1993, that country split into two separate countries -- Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It was the Czech Republic with whom the United States recently signed a missle defense agreement.

I don't know whether McCain was having another "senior moment" or whether he just doesn't understand how the world has changed, but either way it shows us that he just doesn't have the foreign police expertise that Republicans and the mainstream media are claiming he has.

Compassion For Susan Atkins ?

In 1969, Susan Atkins was a member of the cult headed by Charles Manson. She and several others entered the Sharon Tate mansion one night, and murdered the 8 1/2 month pregnant woman and several others. Atkins was among the most vicious of the killers, showing her victims no mercy.

I am old enough to remember the killings and the trial of the killers. Atkins never showed any remorse for her brutal actions. She always acted like she thoroughly enjoyed the killing and the noteriety of the trial. She even bragged about the killings to jailmates, and laughed about how the knife jiggled in Tate's pregnant belly.

Although she never showed any compassion or remorse, Susan Atkins now wants the state of California to show her some compassion. She has contracted brain cancer and only has about six months to live according to doctors. Her attorney is asking for "compassionate parole".

The request has split the prosecutors who tried the case -- Stephan Kay and Vincent Bugliosi. Kay opposes her release, while Bugliosi supports it. A state panel will meet today to decide the issue.

While I respect Vincent Bugliosi, I cannot agree with him about this case. Maybe I'm becoming mean in my old age, but I think Atkins should die in prison. The state of California should show her the same compassion she showed her victims -- NONE.

UPDATE - Atkins parole was denied.

Those Poor G8 Nations

By Cameron (Cam) Cardow in The Ottawa Citizen

The Coming Depression

Anyone who has read this blog for very long, knows that I believe the American economy is in very serious trouble. Phil Gramm and Sidney McCain may think things are fine and Americans are just being "whiners", but I think we'll be very lucky to escape with just an extended recession.

Unless we get some decent leadership and start to rein in the current corporatocracy, we're probably going to see another Depression just like the 1930's. That awful time also followed a period of Republican rule where the corporations were allowed to rape the country.

The signs are there. Wages are stagnant and jobs are disappearing (500,000 in just the last six months). Home foreclosures are at record levels, and the houseing market is in shambles. Unemployment is rising and is now about 5.6% (much higher if you add in those no longer eligible for unemployment payments). The Food Banks (modern version of soup kitchens) can't handle the demand for their service which rises each week.

And it's not just the poor and working classes that are caught in the squeeze. With the deflation of their home equities and the inflation of gas, food and nearly everything else, the middle class is being destroyed. There was only one thing missing to make it mirror the Depression of the 1930s -- bank failures. After all, we had been told that bank failures couldn't happen with all the modern safeguards.

But that wasn't true. Last friday, FDIC regulators took over IndyMac Bank and shut it down. Yesterday, they tried to assure people that accounts under $100,000 and retirement accounts under $250,000 would be paid by FDIC (Customers line up in the above picture).

But the fact is that 10,000 people had over $1 billion in the bank that wasn't insured. In an unusually generous gesture, the FDIC says they will cover half of that. But that still means that $500 million of bank customer's money has disappeared into thin air.

Yesterday morning, ABC's economics reporter revealed that at least 90 other banks are in serious trouble. CNBC was even more pessimistic. They said nearly all banks are in trouble to some degree, and it will take at least $1.2 trillion to bail them out.

If a large hunk of these banks go under, there's no way the FDIC could continue to make good on half of uninsured money. It would take a large influx of new government money just to cover the insured funds. Is it any wonder that bank stocks are falling on Wall Street?

And what is McCain's solution for these myriad problems? Just to continue Bush's economic policies and cut taxes for the rich even more. That's no solution at all -- just an invitation to disaster.

Keeping the Republicans in power in the next election will surely lead only to another Great Depression. America must have a change in direction and economic policy. It is essential.

American Team Loses Yellow Jersey

Kim Kirchen, who rides for America's Team Columbia, has worn the yellow jersey for several days in this year's Tour de France. But stages 9 and 10 entered the big mountains separating France and Spain. Kirchen survived stage 9 and kept the yellow jersey, but stage 10 (pictured above) proved too much for him and he wound up in seventh place overall.

But another American team rider has stepped up and placed himself among the leaders. Christian Vandevelde of Garmin Chipotle worked his way up to third place in stage 9. In stage 10, he was able to ride with the leaders and stayed in third place -- less than a minute out of the lead.

In the team competition, both of the American teams have dropped far behind now. Here are the standings:

Yellow Jersey (overall)

1. Evans (Lotto)

2. Schleck (CSC)..........00' 01"

3. Vandevelde (G. Chipotle).....00' 38"

4. Kohl (Gerolsteiner).....00' 46"

5. Menchov (Rabobank).....00' 57"

6. Sastre (CSC)..........01' 28"

7. Kirchen (Columbia).....01' 56"

8. Cobo Acedo (Saunier).....02' 10"

9. Ricco (Saunier)..........02' 29"

10. Efimkin (AG2R)..........02' 32"

Green Jersey (sprinters)

1. Freire (Rabobank).....131 pts.

2. Kirchen (Columbia).....124

3. Hushovd (Agricole).....105

4. Valverde (Caisse).....96

5. Zabel (Milram).....92

Polka Dot Jersey (climbers)

1. Ricco (Saunier).....77

2. De La Fuente (Saunier).....65

3. Lang (Gerolsteiner).....57

4. Kohl (Gerolsteiner).....56

5. Schleck (CSC).....46

Team Standings

1. Saunier

2. CSC..........04' 40"

3. AG2R..........09' 29"

4. Gerolsteiner.....19' 49"

5. Caisse..........22' 34"

10. Columbia.....37' 19"

14. Garmin Chipotle.....57' 13"

"Abstinence-Only" Is Hurting Texas Teens

Back in 1995, Democrat Garnet Coleman introduced legislation that would allow the teaching on abstinence in sex education programs in Texas schools. He said it was introduced and passed because Democrats were afraid that Republicans would do away with sex education altogether. Unfortunately, that's exactly what has happened anyway.

Texas students are now taught that abstinence is the only course of action for those who are not married. They are not taught how to use condoms, and the rules prevent the demonstration of how to put a condom on. The only thing they're taught about condoms is that they "often fail" (which is a lie). They are not taught that condoms can prevent both pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases.

Our state Republican leaders have decided to teach their religious beliefs instead of proper sex education. They would rather see our teenagers get pregnant and contract sexually-transmitted diseases, than to teach them how they can avoid both.

I have no problem with encouraging abstinence among our teens, but it needs to be accompanied by real sex education that will show them how to protect themselves if they don't practice abstinence.

Last year, Texas accepted $17 million from the federal government to teach "abstinence-only". Since 1982, Texas has spent $117 million to teach "abstinence-only" -- more than any other state. And what has it gotten us? Texas has 53% of its students in 9th thru 12th grade that have had sex. In fact, Texas leads the nation in teen pregnancies.

Twenty-two other states have realized that "abstinence-only" simply does not work. They have turned down the federal funds and begun to teach real sex education. But not Texas. A spokesman for Governor Perry says, "The governor is comfortable with the current law and supports abstinence programs." There is no hope of change until the Republican state leadership has been ousted.

This is just one more reason to vote Democratic this November (and again in two years). The Republicans would rather hurt our children than admit they've made a mistake.

Real Meaning Of FISA

By John Darkow - Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri

TPA Weekly Review

It's Monday, and that means it is time for yet another edition of the Texas Progressive Alliance's weekly round-up.

South Texas Chisme got what they were asking for, - a spotlight on the Webb County Sheriff's race. BlackBox Voting's Bev Harris has asked for relevant auditable materials. CouldBeTrue can hardly wait to find out what happened.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the "rail-rage" that's hitting Central Texas, Rail, Rail, Rail - Do It Right, Not Fast.

President Bush hasn't seen Russian President Medvedev since his 'election' to the Russian Presidency. Last week, he had his first opportunity to look into his eyes. Check out McBlogger to see what he saw.

Lightseeker at Texas Kaos tells the chilling tale of Goodhair and the Fire at the Governor's Mansion. Governor Rick Perry didn't light the match, but decisions laid at his door certainly made things a lot easier for the arsonist who did.

The Texas Cloverleaf examines T. Boone Picken's Plan to save us from evil oil men and move forward with greener energy.

Texas Senators Cornfed and Bailey scored a perfect ten in synchronized flip-flopping on the Medicare bill last week, shortly after they and the rest of their Republicans exhibited mirror-image coordination on FISA. PDiddie at Brains andEggs has the details.

BlueBloggin sees Maliki making the same mistakes as King GeorgeIraq Hands Out Stimulus Money As Us Shifts Occupation.

BossKitty worries about the consequences of revaluing human life in AmericaDollar Value of American Life drops - Now What.

Vince at Capitol Annex notes that Senate Democrats have taken a strong stance on calling for reform of the Texas Department of Insurance, with one senator even calling for the Insurance Commissioner to be an elected official.

MeanRachel wonders when politics became unpatriotic on July 4th.

Off the Kuff had a guest post from Rep. Pete Gallego about the HDCC and its efforts to reclaim the State House for the Democrats.

WhosPlayin was impressed that Ken Leach, candidate for U.S. Congress in CD 26 got good coverage in the Gainesville Register, even though his totally honest quote didn't pass the "smell" test.

jobsanger took a look at the lies being told in a McCain campaign ad.

Nat-Wu of Three Wise Men ponders whether long-suffering American Indians could actually count for something in the upcoming Presidential Election.

Bay Area Houston details the record $52,000 fine by the Texas Ethics Commission against State Senator Craig Estes.

Whiners Anonymous

Cartoon by Etta Hulme in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Drilling Won't Make Us Energy Independent

After the mess the Bush administration has made of our economy, it seems like Bush thinks he can still lie to the American people and get away with it. The price of gas is now spiraling out of control. It's already over $4.00 a gallon, and it looks like it might rise to $6.00 or $7.00 a gallon before much can be done about it. But Bush (and his elderly protege, Sidney McCain) claim they have a simple solution.

Bush and McCain say all we have to do to lower the price of gasoline is let the big oil companies drill for oil in our pristine wilderness areas (ANWR) and offshore of some of our most beautiful and popular beach areas. They would have us believe that as soon as the drilling starts, the price of gasoline will magically begin to fall. What a load of crap!

The new proposed drilling would fatten the wallets of Bush and Cheney's corporate oil buddies, but it would do nothing to bring down the price of gasoline. As McBlogger tells us, it would take nearly 10 years for that new oil to get to market. In addition, there's simply not enough of it there to make much of a dent in the oil market.

There are a few other things to consider before buying into the silly argument that we can drill our way out of this mess. First, one of the most successful of all oilmen, T. Boone Pickens, says it can't be done. He says there's simply not enough oil there to drill our way to energy independence.

Second, the chances are much greater of ruining our wilderness and beaches than of finding enough oil in those areas to affect the price of gasoline.

Third, there are already 68 million acres of land and water where oil companies currently hold leases, but have not drilled. Shouldn't these areas be tapped first?

Fourth, a significant portion of the oil that is produced in this country is being shipped to foreign countries. What guarantee do we have that the oil companies won't do the same with any new oil found in America? The big oil companies are multi-nationals. They're not trying to make us energy-independent. They're only interested in record profits.

The truth is that there's only one thing that will bring down the price of gasoline -- a significant drop in demand for it. As long as our only alternative to power our vehicles is gasoline (and those vehicles use that gas inefficiently), the price will continue to rise.

It is time for the United States to adopt a reasonable energy policy -- something that has been non-existent in the last eight years. Part of that policy should be to significantly lower the vehicular demand for gasoline.

We must raise the fuel efficiency of all gasoline powered vehicles and produce more hybrid vehicles. We should also run more of our vehicles on natural gas and biofuels (that are NOT made from food products such as corn). We should also hasten the development and production of electric and hydrogen vehicles.

If we were to stop playing around with these ideas and get serious about them, we could greatly reduce the demand for gasoline in just a few years. Then the prices would come down. The more that we don't need gasoline, the lower the price will be.

But the idea that we can drill our way to energy independence is just another Republican lie.

Inmate Shumate

The picture is of former Potter County Sheriff Michael Shumate at his current residence -- jail.

Hot Dog And Ice Cream Social

Come on out Sunday to support Potter County Democrats, including our great candidate for sheriff -- Robert Taylor